smith



A. M. SMITH.

FEED BUCKET.

(No Model.)

,821. Patented Aug. 14 J Z6922.

INVENTOR 2 WITNESSES:

S m N R O T T A N4 PETERS. Pholwulhu mpher, wzuhingmn, m;

UNITED STATES PATn'r tries.

ALBERT M. SMITH, OF \VESTERLY, RHODE ISLAND.

FEED-BUCKET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,821, dated August 14, 1888.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT MORTIMER SMITH, of Westerly, in the county of Nashington and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and Improved Feed'Bucket, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,

My invention relates to an improvement in feedbuckets specially designed for horses, and has for its object to provide an economical, simple, and durable bucket, wherein ample ventilation will be provided, and wherein, also, the horse will be unable to obtain more feed at a time than he can conveniently eat, and wherein, also, there will be no waste.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l. is a central vertical section through the bucket when substantially filled with grain or other food, and Fig. 2 is asimilar view illus-' trating the position of the parts when the bucket is substantially empty. Fig. 3 is a plan view, and Fig. 4 is a detail section illustrat ing the locking device.

In carrying out the invention, Arepresents a frame, consisting, essentially, of the two U shaped metal strips (1 and a, the said metal being preferably a spring 1netal-such as brass or steel-having their horizontal members crossed centrally and secured to one another in any convenient manner, whereby one strip is at right angles to the other.

The vertical members of the several U- shaped strips are bent over upon themselves inward, as illustrated at a, the said bend being made at a point in the strips which is de' signed to represent the top of the bucket. The ends 13 carried over are projected perpendicularly downward a distance preferably equaling less than half the height of the bucket, and are provided upon their extremities at the center with an integral lug, I), as illus trated in Figs. 1 and 2. The frame is complcted by passing a ring, 2), around the vertical members at the top and uniting the ring and members thereto in any suitable manner.

In the lower portion of the frame a spiral spring, D, is placed, resting upon the horizontal members of the strips a 0:, either secured thereto or simply laid thereon, as in practice it may be found most desirable. The springis, however, in any event allowed to expand freely upward. Upon the spring the bottom (1 of a cylindrical feed-receptacle, D, is made to bear, the body of which receptacle is preferably made of wood and of a diameter to permit free vertical play in the frame. The bottom of the feed -receptacle is preferably of metal-galvanized iron, for instance-being more or less dished, and provided centrally with a series of perforations, d, or having one large aperture cut therein and covered with a strip of wire-gauze or similar reticulated material. The feed-receptacle in its movements within the frame slides between the frame proper and the inwardly-inclined arms B, ample space being provided for that purpose, and the said arms being so carried as not to come in contact with the said receptacle, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

lVithin the feed-receptacle a circular, more or less cupshaped, detachable partition, E, is provided,of less diameter than said receptacle, having a central opening, e, a series of slots, 8, near the periphery, and an aperture, o intervening each of the aforesaid slots. The partition E is further provided with an upwardlyextending peripheral flange, 6".

In operation, when it is desired to fill the feed-receptacle, the partition E is revolved until theslots e register with the several arms B, whereupon the partition is carried upward to the top of the bucket between the said arms and the frame. The grain or other feed is now poured in the receptacle, the weight whereof compresses the spring. hen the feed-receptacle has been filled, the partition E is allowed to drop down upon the grain and turned around until the lugs b upon the arms B engage the apertures e, as shown in Fig. 1. The bucket may be suspended from the head of the horse in any approved manner.

It will be observed that in order to obtain the feed the horse must bring hislips substan tially in contact with the partition, and that the pressure exerted by the spring upon the receptacle will allow only a suliicient quantity of food to escape through the central opening,

e, and the slots e to afford a good mouthful. It will also be observed by reference to Fig. 2 that the partition will always maintain the same relative position with respect to the feed while any remains in the receptacle, since, as the feed is withdrawn, the spring forces the receptacle upward While the partition remains stationary.

A hook, M, may be pivoted upon the lower coil of the spring at each side to engage the upper coil, as shown in Fig. 4, and retain the a frame having integral inwardly-extending perpendicular arms, a spring supported in said frame, and a feed-receptacle provided with a ventilated bottom resting upon said spring, of a detachable partition held within the receptacle provided with a central orifice and a series of peripheral slots, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In a feed-bucket, the combination, with a skeleton frame having the members thereof 3 5 bent inward at the top and provided with lugs at their extremities, a coiled spring supported in said frame, and a feed receptacle provided with a ventilated bottom resting upon said spring, of a flanged detachable partition held within said receptacle, provided with'a central orifiee,a series of peripheral slots, and apertures intervening said slots adapted to receive said lugs, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

vA. M. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J. F. AOKER, Jr., C. SEDGW'ICK. 

